Jesus said, “Let Not Your Hearts Be Troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” John 14:1

 

We live in a world of pressure ― pressure to success, pressure to perform, pressure of people, career and life! We try this and that, and they all lead to anxiety, worry and confusion.

 

Paul, just like any of us, he experienced troubles on every side too. Yet he testified in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 “we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.”

 

The Christian life has many seasons; some are more easily embrace than the others.In John chapter 14 to 17, Jesus was preparing His disciples for a change of season. For the disciples had operated under an open heaven where Jesus started in Luke 10:18-19 - “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

 

Jesus prepares his followers for seasons of shaking (trouble times) by focusing upon Him, calling us to faith and prayer. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”- John 14:13, 14 

 

The Purpose of prayers are given to us to deal with the Troubles of this World. 

Jesus teaches us three forms of prayers in Luke 11: 9.

"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

 

1.     Asking is Prayers of Petition (To Ask God)

This is about requesting, entreating, or petitioning God for one's needs, specifically as it relates to one's purpose and destiny.

 

2.     Seeking is Prayers of Devotion (To Seek God)

Prayers of private worship to God, causing one to love, adore, praise, giving of thanks and express joy, faith and beauty in His holiness.

 

3.    Knocking is Prayer of Intercession (To Intervene to God)

Prayers of access to spiritual things of God for the benefit of others. To stand in the gap on behalf of others, to mediate or intervene

 

It is the Prayers of Petition, Devotion, and Intercession that empowers us to defeat trouble. The Purpose of these Prayers are given to us to deal with the troubles of this world. The troubles pressure us on every side, leaving us distressed (Anxious, Worried, and Fearful).

 

However, the prayer of devotion can build us up to endure the troubles of pressure and despair.

 

In Psalm 145:18-19 -"The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them." 

 

In Psalm 27:4-5 -"One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For in the time of trouble, he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock."

 

When we seek God, He builds us up with peace to endure the pressure of this world. 

Peace that defeats worry; Peace that destroys the pressure; Peace that overcomes confusion.

 

Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. 

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." 

John 16:33
 

“Take heart. Be of GOOD CHEER!”

 

Build up and fill up your prayers life to overcome and defeat the trouble of this world.

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IIGN Prayer Minister,

Pastor John Tan